Garment hanger



Dec. 25, 1956 M. A. GORDON 2,775,379

GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 11, 1955 INVENTOR MUPPAY ,4. moo/v ATTORNEY formed of resilient wire,

United States Patent Industries, Jersey City, .li, a corporation of New Jersey h Application January 11, 1 955, Serial No. 481,126 i 9 Claims. emu-95 The present invention relates generally to improvements in garment hangers, and in particular it relates to proved garment hangers for skirts, trousers and the like. l

The conventional garment hanger employed in sup portingand stretching skirts, trousers and similar articles of wear are generally of two structured types; those which are formed principally of spring wire and those which are constructed of other material such as molded or stamped metal, plastic andythe like. Each of these types of garment hangers possesses numerous advantages and-disadvantages. The spring wire type of hanger, al-

though usually of simple and inexpensive construction-is highly unsatisfactory in operation particularly in view of the fact that its extensibility is limited and theproper orientation of the garment engaging elements is not maintained.. The other type of hanger, on the other hand, is bulky, awkward, complex and expensive in construction, and leaves much to be desired in operation and manipulation.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved garment hanger.

Anoth er object of the present invention is to provide an, improved garment hanger for skirts, trousers and similar articles of apparel. v

, Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved skirt and trouser garment hanger formed of resilient wire. r

A further object of the present invention is to pro-' vide an improved skirt and trouser hanger and stretcher Still a further object of the present invention is .to provide an improved skirt and garment hanger and stretcher formed of resilient wire which is of simple, rugged and inexpensive construction. I

The above and other objects of the present invention will'become apparent from a, reading of the, following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of one form of article constructed according to and embodying the present invention, shown in extended position and by broken lines in compressed position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22, in Figure l; I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-9-3 in Figure l; i

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a section of another form of improved hanger also constructed accord ing to and embodying the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view thereof; and

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6--6 in Figure 4.

The present invention, in a broad sense, contemplates the provision of a garment hanger comprising a pair of complementary interfitting members, each of which includes a first inwardly and upwardlydirected arm and a second laterallyextending arm intersecting said first arm,

i stantially horizontal and are transversely spaced relative 2,775,379 Patented Dec. 25, 1 956 ice the outer ends of said first arm and second arm being joined, the inner ends of said arms being resiliently urged toward each other, means hingedly connecting said first arms adjacent to their upper ends, and means carried adjacent to the outer ends of each of said second arms slidably engaging the other of said second arms.

In accordance with the embodiment of the present in vention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each of the hanger interfitting members is formed of resilient wire having a loop-like configuration, the crotch portions of the loop being oppositely, outwardly disposed and laterally spaced, each of the crotch portions having a corrugated vertical section. Projecting inwardly from the upper endrof each of the crotch sections are the laterally extending second arms which are transversely spaced and terminate in transverselyrextending hook members which slidably register with the opposite second arms. The first arms project inwardly and upwardly from the lower ends of the crotch portions to a point directly below the hooked ends of the second arms, and then more steeply upwardly inclined and extend between the opposing and for use in the support of trousers, the construction is similar to the previously described embodiment except that the crotch portion of the individual members is replaced by a member provided with a pair of transversely spaced depending and upwardly extending trouser engaging elements which are formed of wire integral with the first and second arms.

Reference is now made to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 thereof which illustrate the embodiment of the present invention adapted for use in hanging skirts and similar articles, wherein the numeral 10 generally designates a pair of interfitting, identical and complementary members constituting the garment hanger of the present invention. Each of the members 10 is formed of resilient wire and is of loop configuration including an inwardly laterally extending normally linear second arm 12, and an upwardly inwardly directed first arm 14 joined at their outer ends by a crotch portion 16 which is slightly outwardly inclined to the vertical and is provided with corrugations to facilitate suitableengagement of a supported skirt. It is preferable and possible to cover the crotch portions 16 with a nonslip substance such as rubber or a suitable plastic, for additional friction.

In the assembled hanger, the second arms 12 are subto each other and terminate in transversely directed hookelements 18 having their open ends 19 facing away from the opposite second arms 12 and slidably engaging said second arms. Each of the first arms 14 include a lower section 26 which is inwardly and upwardly inclined and extends from the lower end of the crotch portion 16 to point immediately below the second arm '12 and an intermediate portion 22 of steeper inclination Washers 30 adjacent to its head and its upset end. A supporting hook member 32 is provided with a depending loop 34 which engages the shank of the rivet 28 between the loop elements 26. e

In its normal extended condition the first arms 14 are sprung upwardly, the return thereof to a fully unstressed condition being limited or restrained by reason of the pivotal connection between the inner free ends of the arms 14 and the abutment between the lower portions of the intermediate arm sections 22 and the terminating hook elements 18 of the arms 12.

In employing the garment hanger described above the arms intermediate sections 22 are grasped and pressed towards each other, the hook elements 18 riding along the corresponding second arms 12 until they contact the upper end of the crotch portions 16, the outer hooked ends of the arms 12 traveling away from each other, the point of intersection of these arms with arms 14 traveling toward the respective crotch portions 16. The hanger in the compressed condition assumes the configuration shown in broken line in Figure 1 of the drawing, and in such condition is inserted through the upper part of a skirt to a position directly below the waist portion thereof. Thereafter the intermediate arm sec tions are released permitting the hanger to expand whereby the crotch portions 16 firmly engage the skirt to stretch it to its desired shape and support the same; The hanger may be suspended by means of the hook 32 wherever desiredv In Figures 4 to 6 of the drawing there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention difiering from that previously described only in the configuration of the first arms and in the arrangement joining the outer end of the first and second arms of each of the hanger members.

More specifically, the hanger consists of a pair of interfitting complementary hanger members 40, each of which includes a first upwardly inwardly inclined arm 42 and a second laterally extending arm 44, the inner and upper portions of which and the assembly of which are similar to that of the embodiment first described. The lower section of the first arm 42 is arcuately shaped as at 46 and terminates in a sharply upwardly outwardly inclined leg 48. The outer end of the arm 44 and the upper end of the leg 48 carry an integrally formed depending trousers engaging member 56. The trousers engaging member St? includes a pair of downwardly out-- wardly inclined legs 52 depending from the ends of the arm 44 and leg 48. The lower end of the legs 52 are connected by the ends of the downwardly directed U-shaped portion 54, the crotch end of which is substantially at the level of the arm 44 and the upper end of the leg 48. As seen in the drawing, the trousers legs engaging member 50 includes a pair of transversely spaced depending legs or trouser engaging elements having their lower ends free and defined by the legs 52 and 54. Legs 52 and 54 are U-shaped and are joined in transversely spaced relationship by bridge 55.

The operation and manipulation of the garment hanger last described is similar to that of the first embodiment differing therefrom only in that each of the trouser legs are engaged by a pair of laterally oppositely disposed trousers engaging elements. The hanger is collapsed as previously described bringing the trousers engaging members towards each other whereupon each of the trousers engaging elements carried by each of the hanger members 40 is inserted into the opposite trouser legs, laterally spaced elements being disposed along opposite creases of the trouser legs. Upon release of the hanger member to permit it to return to: its expanded condition, the trousers engaging elements .bear against the inner faces of the trouser legs in registry with the creases thereof to stretch the trouser legs and support the trousers. As in the earlier embodiment each of the hanger members 40 is formed of a single length of resilient wire.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that'numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim: Y

1. A garment hanger comprising a pair of complementary interfitting members, each of which is formed of a single integral length of resilient material and includes a first upwardly and inwardly directed arm and a second laterally extending arm intersecting said first arm, the outer ends of said.first arm and said second arm being joined and having the inner ends thereof resiliently urged toward each other, means hingedly connecting said first arms adjacent to their inner upper ends, and means carried adjacent to the outer ends of each of said second arms slidably engaging the other of said second arms.

, 2. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said interfitting members are of loop configuration the outer ends of the arms thereof being joined by a crotch portion,

3. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said crotch portion is of substantially vertical disposition and formed integral with said arms.

4. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said interfitting members is formed of a single bent length of resilient wire.

5. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said arm slidable engaging means includes transversely directed hook shaped elements formed integrally at the outer ends of each of said second arms.

6. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second arms are transversely spaced, said first arms passing upwardly between said second arms relatively inward of said hook shaped elements.

7. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, including a supporting hook member having a depending portion hinge connected to the ends of said first arms.

8. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer ends of said first and second arms are joined by a trousers engaging member including a pair of transversely spaced depending legs.

9. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 8, wherein the trouser legs engaging member comprises a pair of U-shaped members joined by a bridge portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

